Golden Gate Bridge toll could hit $8

SAN FRANCISCO -- A variety of options for a toll increase on the Golden Gate Bridge were unveiled Tuesday, with one scenario calling for an $8 fee by 2018 for some users.

The district has a projected five-year, $142 million deficit, up from a $66 million deficit last year. It would take a toll increase to reduce the projected deficit to a manageable level, according to the district.

"We last raised tolls a little over six years ago, things cost more today than they did back then," said Denis Mulligan, bridge general manager, explaining why there is a need for an increase. "Revenues are flat because we are a fee-based agency."

Bridge officials find themselves grappling with a growing deficit and dwindling reserves and tolls appear to be the only option to get back into the financial black.

Personnel costs, the seismic retrofit of the span, a $75 million bill to help pay for the ongoing Doyle Drive upgrade, south tower painting and the partial loss of revenue from a downsized local bus contract with Marin County, have fueled the district's deficit, bridge officials said.

"Costs continue to go up and that's our expectation for the next five years," said Joe Wire, auditor controller of the district, adding that another toll discussion could occur by 2018.

Five options to raise tolls will be presented to the bridge Board of Directors Friday. The board will review options, but a final decision is still months off.

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One scenario calls for a $1 increase for April 2014, which would raise $89 million over five years.

Another calls for a $1 increase next April, then incremental 5 percent toll increases in the following five years. That would raise $123 million over five years. That would put the "pay-by-plate" toll at $8 in 2018.

With all-electronic tolls now on the bridge -- all toll takers were eliminated in March -- the cost to cross could be raised by less than whole dollars if desired without fear of a traffic backup because no change has to be made.

"Each scenario is slightly different," said Mary Currie, bridge district spokeswoman. "Some are incremental over the next five years. It will be up to the public to tell us what is palatable to them."

Tolls were last raised by $1 in 2008. Fastrak users now pay $5 to cross the span, while "pay by plate" drivers pay $6.

District officials noted 25 percent of bridge staff has been eliminated since 2009, when it developed a 33-point plan to keep it in the black at that time. Other cuts will be looked at as part of a new financial plan.

About half of toll revenue supports the bus and ferry service, which district officials note keep the vehicle traffic flowing smoothly on the span.

"There is 25 percent less traffic on the bridge because of their toll dollars working to take people of the bridge and put them into transit," Currie said.

Public outreach sessions are planned for January and a public hearing in early February before the board votes on the issue later that month.

The Golden Gate Bridge Finance-Auditing Committee will meet at 9:30 a.m. Friday to discuss toll increase options at the Toll Plaza Administration Building in San Francisco. The Board of Directors will take up the issue at 10 a.m. Visit http://goldengate.org/news/TollIncreaseProposal2014.php for more information.